Here's the list of the top 5 Best Jobs for 2012.

1. Software Engineer
2012 pay: $88,142
2011 pay: $87,140
Change in pay: +1.1%

Software engineer has been the No. 1 job for two years running. You can sum that up in two words, Lee said: “Technology revolution.”



2. Actuary
2012 pay: $88,202
2011 pay: $87,204
Change in pay: +1.1%

Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty, using mathematics, statistics and financial theory to assess the risk that a particular event will occur, according to the BLS.

There is always demand for risk analysts across all industries – actuary has made the top 10 for four years running -- but the uncertainty that came with the financial crisis, and economic havoc it wreaked on companies, juiced demand for this profession even more.


Resources Manager
2012 pay: $99,102
New to the list for 2012

At first glance, HR manager being the No. 3 job was the biggest surprise of the best list, but when you think about employment trends, it makes sense: There are some high-skilled jobs in high-demand fields like health care and information technology that are in demand and there aren’t enough skilled workers to fill them, Lee said.

Add to that the fact that a lot of skilled HR managers are retiring and fewer young people pursue human resources as a career and you’ve got a perfect storm for one of the best jobs in America this year.

And, because it requires a qualified HR person to be able to spot and hire these skilled workers, HR managers get paid, on average, just shy of six figures.

4. Dental Hygienist
2012 pay: $68,109
2011 pay: $67,107
Change in pay: +1.5%

Dental hygienists clean teeth and examine patients for oral diseases such as gingivitis. They are increasingly doing more of the dentist’s work. To be a dental hygienist typically requires an associate’s degree in dental hygiene.

Perhaps a reflection of our declining dental hygiene as a society or the fact that fewer people are pursuing work as a dental hygienist – or both – employment in this field is expected to grow by 38 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to the BLS.

“It’s a lot like computer programmers – there’s demand and not enough supply,” Lee said.

5. Financial Planner
2012 pay: $104,161
2011 pay: $101,164
Change in pay: +3%

As Baby Boomers get older, they not only need health care – they need financial advice for retirement. And with the stock-market gyrations that resulted from the financial crisis, that demand is even greater.

“People are realizing that they haven’t made the investments they need to make,” Lee said. “Even the savviest investors got hosed. It was a bit of a warning call that they need someone to help them with their investments.”

Not only is there demand for financial planners, but there are fewer people going into this profession than the demand is requiring, Lee said.



Here's the list of the top 5 Worst Jobs for 2012.

. Lumberjack
2012 pay: $32,144 
2011 pay: $32,109 
Change in pay: flat 

Lumberjack has always been one of the worst jobs — like dairy farmers, you’re working outside whatever the weather, in dangerous conditions, with low pay in an industry that took a huge hit during the recession (hello housing bust) and is increasingly being automated. 

That being said, you’ll find a lot of lumberjacks who say they do it for their love of the outdoors and that they take great pride in their work. 

“I talked to one lumberjack who said, ‘I love my job! I’m outdoors,’” Lee explained. “I said, ‘But isn’t it dangerous?’ He replied: ‘Oh sure, I’ve broken my leg twice, my collar bone and lost my pinky finger. But it’s no big deal. Just part of the job,’” Lee said. 

“How many of us would give up our pinky finger for our job?” Lee quipped. 

2. Dairy Farmer
2012 pay: $33,119 
2011 pay: $32,114 
Change in pay: flat 

Dairy farmers weren’t in the 10 worst last year so they not only shot into the bottom 10 but they debuted at No. 2. 

First, it’s a low-paying job. Second, it’s very dangerous working with large animals such as cows. “Moving the animals, [farmers] could get their feet crushed,” Lee explained. “And there are more fatalities in dairy farming than ever before.” 

Plus, the working conditions are tough — not only the obvious manure issue (though talk to a dairy farmer and he’ll tell you he doesn’t even smell it anymore) but also the fact that you have to get out there whether it’s 10 degrees or 100 degrees. 

And the job outlook is tough: Dairy farming is increasingly becoming a corporate business, which is squeezing the little guys, Lee said. 

3. Enlisted Military Personnel
2012 pay: $36,261 
New to the list for 2012 

Enlisted military personnel is new to the list but not because it suddenly became a tough job. It was hard to get solid data on the profession, according to CareerCast. 

“It’s incredibly dangerous. You’re on the front lines and you’re responsible for others. The stress level is extremely high,” Lee said. 

Plus, the hiring outlook is now weaker than it was at the peak of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

4. Oil Rig Worker
2012 pay: $32,132 
2011 pay: $32,143 
Change in pay: flat 

You might be surprised to find any job in the booming oil industry on a “worst” list but these guys are the entry-level spot on the oil totem pole. Their jobs are dangerous: working on oil rigs, often far away from home or offshore, in bad weather and dangerous working conditions. And they don’t share in the wealth of the industry because they are typically paid very low.

“It’s clearly the most dangerous job in the industry,” Lee said. “The fatality rate is very high.”

One bright spot is this category climbed up three notches on the list, after being the absolute worst job in America for two years running. 

“With the surge in the energy industry, the hiring outlook improved enough to nudge them higher,” Lee explained. 

“It’s dangerous and doesn’t pay well but many people thought, ‘Well, at least it’s a career where I can retire young,’” Lee said. “Now, you can’t even guarantee that you’ll maintain your job, nevermind retire from it,” Lee said. 
 
5. Newspaper Reporter
2012 pay: $35,275 
2011 pay: $34,275 
Change in pay: +3% 

Newspaper reporter has always been a high-stress, low-pay job, but add to that the explosion of online and mobile news and newspaper reporters make a hard landing on the “worst” list.

“The newspaper industry is going through a full retrenchment. There are mergers, bankruptcies and layoffs everywhere,” Lee said. “Point to a newspaper that hasn’t had layoffs – not in this country!” he said. 

With the move to digital, the pressures have mounted on newspaper reporters. “They are now required to tweet and do video as well as write articles,” Lee said. “They’re asked to do much more for less — and the pay is not good.”  

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